Not so "LIVE" Allure of the Seas Review with PIX!

[Donnerz5]

Thank you for the incredible pictures. I was on the same cruise and knew I didn't take enough! It was a beautiful ship and it is great to see it again.

[BrianAlt]

 

This pic reminded me of something...

 

:D

[BrianAlt]

Why and by whom? I know you weren't the first person to post a Quest picture, and definitely not the last.

 

Email me and I'll show you the details. You be the judge. username at gmail dot com.

[QTMichele]

This pic reminded me of something...

 

:D

 

 

That is HILARIOUS!!!

[BrianAlt]

That is HILARIOUS!!!

 

Yes! And my pic is Oasis!

[readyk]

first to curtis i want to say congrats..2 qt this have been one of the best review i have ever seem. the only question i have for u is want kind of camera did u use..thank u for taking me on your crusise..now if i can just wait till sep and stop dreaming of this cruise.

[Radio]

Michele, I LOVE your review. . . The Pics are very nice !

 

I can't wait to try Rita's Cantina. . . Great Job !

 

Thanks for your review ! I love the night pics :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Radio

;);)

 

 

.

[bobmacliberty]

Just found this thread Michele and am loving it. Great pics and great commentary. Thanks for taking the time to do this. It helps make my 2 months, 2 days and 75 minutes go faster! I find it interesting that your review makes Curtis hungry, but it makes me thirsty. :D:D

 

Would you believe that I rarely drink?!

[Digital camera]

Love your review Michele ! :)

[time4me2fly]

Great job on the review, Michele. Thanks for taking the time to post so many pictures.

[bionicman97]

Just found this thread Michele and am loving it. Great pics and great commentary. Thanks for taking the time to do this. It helps make my 2 months, 2 days and 75 minutes go faster! I find it interesting that your review makes Curtis hungry, but it makes me thirsty. :D:D

 

Can't blame you there ;)

[QTMichele]

Thanks for your nice comments and PATIENCE, everyone! I've had a busy weekend with my family and haven't really had the time to finish this review. BUT... I'm back to hopefully finish up my current day. :D

 

Michele, I LOVE your review. . . The Pics are very nice !

 

I can't wait to try Rita's Cantina. . . Great Job !

 

Thanks for your review ! I love the night pics :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Radio

;);)

 

 

.

 

YOU are my hero, Radio! Your live posts are fantastic, and inspire me to do my own. Thanks for "tuning in"!

 

Just found this thread Michele and am loving it. Great pics and great commentary. Thanks for taking the time to do this. It helps make my 2 months, 2 days and 75 minutes go faster! I find it interesting that your review makes Curtis hungry, but it makes me thirsty. :D:D

 

LOL - makes me thirsty too! Seriously, I RARELY drink - maybe a few times a year, but you would've thought I was an alcoholic on this cruise. Had fun!

[QTMichele]

OH!!!!!! Before I forget.... my sister is getting married next year!!! She's been talking about getting married on our big family reunion cruise in the fall, but now she thinks she wants a very small wedding (at least by our family's standards) and will likely get married on the ALLURE in February!!! :D

 

I am so excited that I just can't stand it!!! The Allure is such a beautiful ship, and perfect for the intimate wedding that she wants.

 

I've already told her that I'm going to be her wedding planner. ;) I'm calling Royal Caribbean's wedding department tomorrow!!!

 

Okay, now to finish my review...

[QTMichele]

After getting tons of pictures around the ship, I was feeling a little guilty about being away from Jason for so long (well, not really, but it sounds romantic, doesn't it?). I found him at the upper pool deck, just above the Beach Pool. This is a great spot for ocean viewing, but I was feeling restless and wanted a "pool view." Off to the Beach Pool I went. I found front row seating, and was able to put my toes in the water. It was great! The umbrellas are not only great for finding a bit of shade, but they add to the ambiance of the pool. The water was incredibly warm too - just perfect!

 

Because we wanted to experience the Solarium without the crowds, we went to find a place to relax and read (I was reading Ken Follet's Fall of Giants, in case you're interested). The Solarium was very quiet, and we found some loungers on the upper level. It didn't take long for us to feel the HEAT of the Solarium on a port day. It was HOT. Of course, this was cause for a quick jump in the pool! It was cooler than the Beach Pool, but it was very refreshing.

 

We enjoyed the upper level of the Solarium

 

You could also find us in the "front row loungers" - the view was wonderful!

 

 

I was still feeling restless, and really needed to get out of the heat of the Solarium, so we made our way to the cantilevered HOT TUBS! Definitely WARM in there too!

 

Finally, we decided we just wanted to find a table to sit at in the shade and order a couple of drinks. We found a great table right next to the pool bar (can't remember the correct name, but it was between the beach pool and the H2O zone), and GUESS WHAT WE FOUND?!!!

 

THIS!!!!

 

I had read about the cooler on Cruise Critic, but I had also read that it was hit or miss. Maybe it's on all the ships on a regular basis now, but I didn't know, and I was THRILLED to find one.

 

Here's the deal: the cooler is FREE!!! Here's the catch: you have to buy 8 beers. On your next purchase, you get one free beer for every 7 you buy. Here's a better deal - buy a bucket of beer which is buy 5 get 1 free, then put them in your cooler.

 

 

And, just so you know, I don't drink beer, but managed to find a little tequila so I didn't feel left out.

 

Our Aqua Theater show, Ocean Aria, was rescheduled for 5 o'clock tonight. We left our little table by the bar at 4:30 so we could get good seats at the show. We brought our new cooler with us too.

 

Here's a tip - arrive EARLY for Ocean Aria. We arrived with 25 minute to spare and found MANY people already there. Our seats were off center, but fine, until 5 minutes before the start of the show when a man about 6'5" sat directly in front of me. Seriously?! My view was obstructed, and I was distracted, but, I really enjoyed the show!

 

[QTMichele]

The show was great - acrobatics, diving, and a little comedy - really entertaining. The athletes (I'd say performers, but that doesn't do them justice) were fit and so nice looking too.

 

 

 

TWO divers at once...

 

Are you SERIOUS?!

 

My husband is not a show kind of guy - but he kept nudging me and saying things like, "Look up there! Did you see THAT?!" We can't wait to see the show again, and will show up earlier next time.

[QTMichele]

We had reservations for the Main Dining Room tonight (My Time Dining), but really felt like keeping the day casual. Plus, we were a little confused because Captain Johnny and Cruise Director Allan kept saying it was formal night. HUH? I figured this was an error for a few reasons. First, it was a port day and the next 2 days would be at sea. Second, the Cruise Compass said it was a casual day. To be safe, we went straight for the always gourmet...

 

Johnny Rockets!

 

We sat outside to enjoy the beautiful evening and to people watch, but we did catch a glimpse of the Johnny Rocket Singers and Dancers:

 

 

 

PROOF that we don't always drink something with the word "proof" on the bottle:

 

We had such a relaxing, casual day, and decided to keep it simple by going back to our cabin to enjoy our balcony. I read for hours, and skipped the 10:45 Headliner Show featuring The Unexpected Boys - a musical tribute to Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. I heard they were good, and was sorry I missed them, but the sound of the ocean while reading my book was just too good to part with.

 

The next two days are sea days... I can't wait to share them with you!

[bionicman97]

OH!!!!!! Before I forget.... my sister is getting married next year!!! She's been talking about getting married on our big family reunion cruise in the fall, but now she thinks she wants a very small wedding (at least by our family's standards) and will likely get married on the ALLURE in February!!! :D

 

I am so excited that I just can't stand it!!! The Allure is such a beautiful ship, and perfect for the intimate wedding that she wants.

 

I've already told her that I'm going to be her wedding planner. ;) I'm calling Royal Caribbean's wedding department tomorrow!!!

 

Okay, now to finish my review...

 

That will be a really neat experience :)

[CaptData]

Thanks so much for the reply, Michele. Do you know if the Seafood Shack does the same thing as far as the fee & 3 drink tickets? :D

 

 

No the Seafood Shack is just a dining venue serving seafood that is deep fried. Fish and chips ect.

[QTMichele]

Day 6 - Sea Day

 

 

We made it to Friday, and our sleeping patterns are completely off. We slept in until 11! We made it to the Windjammer for breakfast, and I found strawberries and whipped cream for my waffles. YUM! Well, yum for the Windjammer. The waffles are very soft and not crisp (think steamed waffles). They aren't all that great, but are a sweet treat for me when the strawberries and whipped cream are added. If I didn't mention it previously, I usually eat Kashi cereal for breakfast - it's fun to "cheat" everyone once and a while.

 

After "breakfast," I decided to try the Zip Line.

 

 

There was a decent line - probably 20 people in front of me, but I decided to wait. When there is a long line, there is a "process." The staff takes the first 6 people in line, scans their Sea Pass cards to check for waivers (if they haven't done the waivers, then they can fill them out on the staff's computer while in line), then puts them in a separate queue where they put on their harness. Once the harnesses are on, then they get in line to ZIP across the boardwalk!

 

After 30 minutes of waiting, it was finally my turn.

 

 

I wasn't nervous at all, until I stepped on the platform and was told to go. I got over it almost immediately, and stepped off and ZIPPPPED over the Boardwalk.

 

 

 

 

 

Everyone was great, except the guy in the picture above. He was having a bad day because he didn't like getting his arm ripped off. (For the record, this is a good reason to have a bad day.)

 

We were told to "land" in the yellow area of the platform. Well, I did, but there's a little thing called MOMENTUM. Just as the guy above didn't want to get his arm ripped off, I didn't want to get my legs ripped off. I went from the yellow platform to the big blue padded block that is used for shorter people to stand on to release their gear.

 

Oops.

 

Apparently you're not supposed to do that. Sorry! (I wasn't the only one to do it - almost eveyone was!)

[QTMichele]

The rest of the afternoon was spent on the pool deck with a quick bite to eat at the Wipeout Cafe.

 

 

This is an okay place to eat for something quick and easy. You can find hot dogs, hamburgers, pizza, small sandwiches, fries, nachos, tacos, and "pretzel" dogs. Jason got a pretzel dog - it was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Not bad. Upon closer examination, we notice that it's really just a hotdog bun that's been "pretzel'ized." (Maybe they dunk it in water and flash fry it? Not sure!)

 

You can also find water, flavored water, tea(?) and soft serve ice cream here. There is outdoor seating, or you can take your food to go.

 

TONIGHT is formal night (sorry Captain Johnny and Allan - you were wrong! You need to start reading Cruise Critic to get your information! hehe), but we had no interest in dressing up. Instead, we decided to go back to Rita's Cantina to try something on their menu.

 

Rita's at lunch time is hopping busy, but it's fairly quiet for dinner. Service was great, and we had quite a bit of time to talk with one of the waiters. It was nice getting to know him.

 

Fish Tacos

 

I ordered the fish tacos - not too bad. I would have enjoyed a little more spice, but I was pleased overall. Jason ordered the red snapper - it was great! It had a nice flavor and the fish was cooked perfectly.

 

By the way, the fish tacos are listed under the "smaller entrees." Our waiter suggested I order two servings of fish tacos or select something else to go with it. I didn't want to order a large entree, so I ordered the "cigars." They were okay, and we only ate one or two between us. They make a better appetizer than a meal.

 

OH... the picture doesn't show it, but there are actually two fish tacos on my plate - you just have to find the tortillas under all the "stuff" the pile on them. It was PLENTY of food for me, especially since I ordered dessert afterwards.

 

Our entertainment for the evening was Blue Planet. This was a great show! There were many surprises, and a lot of WOW moments. I can't wait to see it again!

 

Blue Planet

 

 

We sat approximately 5th row center. It was a nice to see the details, but I think optimal viewing would be further back. I'll let you know next year!

[QTMichele]

We spent the rest of the evening walking through Central Park, watching NCAA basketball in On Air, and listening to the singer in the pub. We managed to stay up until 2 am! (This is a huge accomplishment for Jason.)

 

Central Park at Night

 

 

 

 

 

[QTMichele]

More photos of our evening walk around the ship

 

 

Pinnacle Chapel Entrance

 

 

 

 

[QTMichele]

Viking Crown Lounge

 

 

 

Elevator Signage

 

I LOVE this! It makes it so easy to find your way around.

 

On our way to OnAir to watch basketball, I took this picture:

Notice that the little boy is holding a replica of the car in front of him. Love the attention to detail!

 

We finally made it to the Bow and Stern Pub to listen to a little music, and sing along every once and a while.

 

[QTMichele]

Day 7 - At Sea

 

 

Can you believe it? We've made it to our last full day onboard the beautiful Allure of the Seas!

 

We completely wasted our morning - didn't wake up until lunch time today. We skipped breakfast and went to Park Cafe for lunch. I had a quesadilla - blah! It was really greasy, but okay other than that. Jason finally got a made to order salad. It was fabulous! I KNEW I should have stood in line to get one! Oh well... next year!

 

After lunch, we went to the Let You... Entertain ME Dreamworks Aqua Theater Show. It was great, and wonderful entertainment for families.

 

 

 

 

 

[QTMichele]

Another day at the pool, the Beach Pool to be exact, for some reading and napping. It was a perfect day.

 

We had dinner reservations at Chop's Grill tonight. It was by far our best meal of the cruise. We sat next to two gentlemen who kindly gave us their recommendations. They had been on the ship for THREE WEEKS and had eaten at Chop's several times each week. (Was it one of YOU?!)

 

We elected to try the shrimp cocktail, crab & shrimp cakes, filet mignon, and the cheesecake. It was all wonderful, and I am so glad we chose this as our "last supper."

 

Dessert

 

 

We learned something interesting from our waiter about the Chop's desserts. Apparently, they are made off the ship. Our waiter said that several weeks ago they did not have the Mud Pie and tried to make it themselves. He said it was okay, but a disaster for those expecting the "real deal" for their dessert.

 

The Comedy Club was our next destination. This was a good evening, the comedians were funny enough. And, yes, there was the joke about the toilets sucking you in. ha.

 

Our absolute favorite towel of all time:

 

 

 

Tomorrow is debarkation day. So sad that the cruise must come to an end, but I have LOTS more pictures to post!